Closure cap structure



y 1937. T. BUTMAN 2,081,614

CLOSURE CAP STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 1, 1956 Ti E -l- 1a swxxwm INVENTOR Leo T. Bufman A'ITO Patented May 25, 1937 o N i "r D STATES PATENT CFFEQE CLOSURE CAP STRUCTURE Application February 1, 1936, Serial No. 61,973

8 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a closure cap for a collapsible tube, which is characterized by the wide adaptability of the same.

Second, to provide a closure cap structure which is readily and cheaply produced.

Third, to provide a structure which will retain a cap on the widely used tooth paste and shaving cream dispensing tubes in snug relation to the same, yet which may be readily released and held in open position when access to the contents of the tube is desired.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved closure structure shown in closing position on the conventional collapsible or dispensing tube, partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the closure in open position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

The commonly used closure caps for collapsible tubes containing tooth paste, shaving cream or other substances are when disengaged or unscrewed entirely freed and are likely to be dropped or lost. Efforts have been made along the line of attached caps but these are not largely used I believe owing to the fact that they are not strongly secured to the tube proper or in the excessive cost of production of the same or in the fact that the cap structure is permanently mounted on the tube and must be thrown away each time the contents of a tube are exhausted.

By my invention, I provide a closure which overcomes these objections for the reason that it is in threaded relation to the tube proper, hence is not readily detached therefrom by an accidental blow. Likewise, my device is characterized by the simplicity of its design which recommends it from a manufacturing angle. Thirdly, my improved cap structure is internally threaded to fit on the standard threaded nipple of the majority of collapsible tubes on the market so that it may be readily removed from the tube when its contents are exhausted, and placed on a fresh tube.

My pivoted cap structure is further characterized by the positive snap latch of the same and by the fact that it is adapted to be resiliently held in both opened and closed positions of the same with respect to the tube.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral I indicates the body of a collapsible or deformable tube of well known type, such as is widely found on the market as a container for tooth paste, shaving cream, medicaments, and the like. The body i has integral therewith a conical head end 2 having an externally threaded neck portion 3 thereon.

I provide an adapter 4 which has a collar portion 49 internally threaded as indicated at 5 to engage the threads on the tube neck 3 and is further provided with a tapered base or skirt 6 which fits snugly on the conical end 2 of the tube when the adapter is screwed to the tube. The adapter, as will be understood, is provided with threads of standard gauge to fit the standard threaded neck portion.

At one side thereof, the base of the adapter has a pair of integral upstanding hinge knuckles or lugs I provided with openings 8 for the pintles of the combined closure or cap hinge and latch 2 iii. This closure hinge is formed of a single piece of spring wire, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, folded upon itself to provide a loop-like keeper-engaging portion H, the arms of the hinge member being bowed outwardly to embrace the sides of the cap 13, the cap having an angled or A-shaped groove 15 therein, the arms of the hinge member being ,correspondingly angled to fit in these grooves. This holds the cap against rotative movement and securely retains the cap and hinge member in engagement as the hinge member pintles are sprung into the hinge knuckles from the inside thereof. The base is provided with a post-like keeper 15, the head of which is rounded and enlarged so that the loop-like latch can be readily snapped over the same and is efiectively retained although it can be quite easily sprung off.

The cap is provided with a gasket I! which engages the end of the neck and the end of the adapter when the cap is closed.

The pintle lugs or posts are undercut at 9 so that when the cap is in open position, the arms of the hinge members spring into the recesses, maintaining the cap in open position so that it does not interfere with the manipulation of the tube in ejecting the contents and the contents are not discharged onto the cap as might be the case if it were free to swing about.

It will be apparent that I have provided a closure cap structure which may be employed in connection with any of the standard collapsible or deformable tubes on the market and which may be removed from one tube when the contents thereof are exhausted, and placed on a fresh tube. My improved structure likewise eliminates the objectionable and expensive feature of forming locking lugs and hinges for a closure cap integral with the tube body.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a closure cap for the neck of a collapsible tube, an adapter comprising a base and a threaded collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube, the base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a studlike keeper having a rounded head at the opposite side of the collar, a cap fitting over said collar to close the neck, and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of resilient Wire bent upon itself to provide a loop, the arms of which embrace the cap, the end of th loop being restricted to provide a loop-like keeper-engaging latch, the ends of the arms being out-turned to provide pintles engaging said pintle lugs, the pintle lugs having rounded head portions with which the arms engage to yieldably hold the cap in open position, the cap having angular recesses in its opposite sides engaged by said arms.

2. In a closure cap for the neck of a collapsible tube, an adapter comprising a base and a threaded collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube, the base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a studlike keeper at the opposite side of the collar, a cap fitting over said collar to close the neck, and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of resilient Wire bent upon itself to provide a loop, the arms of which embrace the cap, the end of the loop providing a loop-like keeper-engaging latch, the ends of the arms being outturned to provide pintles engaging said pintle lugs, the cap having angular recesses in its opposite sides engaged by said arms.

3. In a closure cap for the neck of a collapsible tube, an adapter comprising a base and a threaded collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube, the base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a stud-like keeper having a rounded head at the opposite side of the collar, a cap fitting over said collar to close the neck, and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of resilient wire bent upon itself to provide aloop, the arms of which embrace the cap, the end of the loop being restricted to provide a loop-like keeper-engaging latch, the ends of the arms being out-turned to provide pintles engaging said pintle lugs, the pintle lugs having rounded head portions with which the arms engage to yieldably hold the cap in open position.

4. In a closure cap for the neck of a collapsible tube, an adapter comprising a base and a thread ed collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube, the base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a studlike keeper at the opposite side of the collar, a cap fitting over said collar to close the neck, and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of resilient wire bent upon itself to provide a loop, the arms of which embrace the cap, the end of the loop providing a loop-like keeper-engaging latch, the ends of the arms being out-turned to provide pintles engaging said pintle lugs.

5. In a closure cap, an adapter comprising a base having an internally threaded collar thereon, a pair of hinge lugs and a keeper on said base, a latch hinge'spring pivoted on said hinge lugs and having a U-shaped portion, the legs of said U-shaped portion resiliently engaging said keeper in closed position of the cap, and a cap having a groove to receive said hinge and adapted to fit on said collar.

6. In a closure cap, an adapter comprising a base having an internally threaded collar thereon, a pair of hinge lugs and a keeper on said base, a latch member pivoted on said hinge lugs and having a U-shaped portion, the legs of said U- shaped portion engaging said keeper in closed position of the cap, and a cap having a groove to receive said member and adapted to fit on said collar.

7. In a closure for collapsible dispensing tubes having threaded necks, the combination of an adapter comprising a base and internally threaded collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube with the base engaging the end of the tube surrounding the neck, said base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a knob-like keeper at the opposite side of the collar, a cap adapted to telescope over said collar having angled grooves in opposite sides thereof, and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of a piece of resilient wire folded upon itself to provide a keeper-engaging loop at its bight end, the arms of the loop being angled to engage the angled grooves in said cap and terminating in out-turned pintles engaging said hinge lugs, the arms being held under tension in engagement with said grooves by their engagement with said lugs.

8. In a closure for collapsible dispensing tubes having threaded necks, the combination of an adapter comprising a base and internally threaded collar adapted to be threaded upon the neck of the tube with the base engaging the end of the tube surrounding the neck, said base having a pair of spaced hinge lugs at one side of the collar and a keeper at the opposite side of the collar, a cap adapted to telescope over said collar having grooves in opposite sides thereof. and a combined hinge and latch for said cap formed of a piece of resilient wire folded upon itself to provide a keeper-engaging loop at its bight end, the arms of the loop being engaged in the grooves in said cap and terminating in out-turned pintles engaging said hinge lugs.

LEO T. BUTMAN. 

